The Executive Proved That Sequels to Low-Budget Horror Films Were a Flop and Audiences Wanted a Bicentennial Man Imitation

There are plenty of tycoon games that cater to various management fantasies, but when it comes to running a movie studio, your options are surprisingly limited. The iconic title from Lionhead Studios, The Movies, often comes to mind, yet since then, we haven’t really seen anything that measures up. Enter indie developers like Aniki Games, stepping in to fill this niche with their latest offering.

The Executive invites you into the world of an indie management simulator where you take the helm as a formidable movie tycoon. Much like in real life, you have the freedom to make monumental blunders and somehow still hold onto your job. The game’s visual style is straightforward, with the bulk of your time spent navigating through menus as you juggle budgets, assign roles, and decide whether to sequelize or reboot a surprise hit from a decade ago. It’s a game that truly appeals to movie industry enthusiasts, the ones who live for tracking Hollywood developments and box office trends to predict a studio’s next move. I confess, I’m one of them.

Jumping in, you start as an ambitious outsider with big dreams and a few million dollars from a well-connected source—be it wealthy parents, eager investors, or a bank. Your choice at this stage determines the game’s difficulty, shaping your financial obligations and repayment terms. Getting your first low-budget films off the ground is manageable. Turning a profit? That’s a different story.

At its core, The Executive is a classic number-crunching experience. It’s not about the thrill of rapid-fire decision-making but rather about figuring out a successful formula, analyzing the market, securing good deals with distributors, and repeating the process. Climbing your way up to producing larger films takes time, requiring a skilled reading of market shifts and an understanding of current trends.

You might, however, choose to hold firm to your own vision, potentially driving your movie business into the ground because you decided to develop a franchise from an underperforming horror flick like Night Freaks. While you don’t get involved in the actual directing or viewing of films, running this business offers some rich role-playing elements. There’s a distinct humor in being pushed to create a sequel for an early, half-baked ‘robot drama’ concept.

The downside here is that despite its unique and systematic appeal, the grind for survival becomes rather monotonous as you progress. The game does little to mix up the core loop, aside from occasional random events. While researching new film elements and expanding your workforce can slightly alter your strategy, the overall gameplay remains static.

So, is The Executive worth your time? That really depends on your level of fascination with the movie industry. Though the management sim offers some depth, it lacks in areas of presentation and meaningful evolution, aside from the personal goals you set. For those intrigued by the basic concept, as I was, there’s a particular sense of achievement in ticking off objectives. Beyond that, you might find your attention waning.

On the flip side, the game does serve as a great source of amusing stories—where films with eerily familiar names miss out on major awards like the Romys (not the Oscars). The night’s biggest accolade might go to a prequel of a reboot you financed four decades ago, thanks to landing an exceptional screenwriter. These laughable, almost absurd moments are rare finds in gaming. I just hoped for more response to my triumphs and failures. Otherwise, it feels like I’m just looking for ways to manipulate the system before my interest dips.

You can find The Executive on PC through GOG and Steam.